Hydraulic control system for crosser machine

ABSTRACT

An improved crosser machine is provided including a continuous apron driven by two spaced-apart reciprocating arms that are adapted to move together through the action of separate hydraulic cylinders. The crosser includes a control mechanism for maintaining the alignment of the apron including valve means adapted to bleed small quantities of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic lines as required to bring the arms into alignment in the event one arm leads the other, and sensing means to determine the relative positions of the arms and to control the valve means. The crosser serves to lay alternate layers of a web back and forth over itself to build up a thickness of the web material.

United States Patent Shapiro 1 Jan. 25, 1971 [54] HYDRAULIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR CROSSER MACHINE [72] Inventor: Sumner Shapiro, Delmar, NY.

[73] Assignee: Star Textiles & Research, Inc., Cohoes,

[22] Filed: Aug. 14,1969

[21] Appl.No.: 850,060

8/l964 l/l968 Pearson et al. ..9l/l 7l Stockwell ..9l/l7l Primary ExaminerPaul E. Maslousky Attorney-Kane, Dalsimer, Kane, Sullivan and Kurucz 5 7] ABSTRACT An improved crosser machine is provided including a continuous apron driven by two spaced-apart reciprocating arms that are adapted to move together through the action of separate hydraulic cylinders. The crosser includes a control mechanism for maintaining the alignment of the apron including valve means adapted to bleed small quantities of hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic lines as required to bring the arms into alignment in the event one arm leads the other, and sensing means to determine the relative positions of the arms and to control the valve means. The crosser serves to lay alternate layers of a web back and forth over itself to build up a thickness of the web material.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PEVA'PSE PATENIEU mzsmz W 3.63631 1 SHEEY 1 [IF 4 ATTORN EYS PATENTEU #:1251972 335361317 sum 2 or 4 INVENTOR SUM/VF? 5664/ /90 ATTORNEYS HYDRAULIC CONTROL SYSTEM FOR CROSSER MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In several industries, as for example, the textile industry, many various types of machines are utilized which have members adapted to reciprocate along a fixed track. An example of such a machine used in the textile field is a crosser which receives a web of polyester fiber or any other staple fiber from a carding machine and lays the web alternatively back and forth over itself so as to build up a thickness of the web material. Such crossers are provided with continuously moving interconnected aprons which take up the web from the associated carding machine and then transfer the web to a platform for removal. The last of the aprons is adapted to reciprocate back and forth over the platform generally perpendicular thereto so as to lay the web over itself with each alternate back and forth pass. This last apron is driven by two arms attached to its opposite sides and adapted to reciprocate relative to the machine frame.

Heretofore, the reciprocating motion of crossers and other similar machines of the type described, has been obtained through the use of mechanical clutches. These clutches require relatively high maintenance, are not readily adjustable, and are not particularly accurate. With regard to the last two points, it should be noted that unless the two arms driving the apron move together, the apron will be out of line, with one side completing its stroke and returning before the other, thereby causing a nonuniform web to be created, resulting in an imperfect finished product.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide a new and improved drive and control mechanism for a reciprocating machine and particularly for a crosser machine used in textile processing.

A further object is to provide such a mechanism which requires relatively little maintenance, may be adapted to existing equipment, and which includes means for aligning the reciprocating elements of the mechanism.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above and other beneficial objects and advantages are attained in accordance with the present invention by providing a hydraulically operated reciprocating mechanism having two spaced-apart arms for parallel movement along opposite sides of fixed frame. The arms are secured to the opposite sides of a pivotally mounted, continuously moving apron and serve to reciprocate the apron back and forth between preset limits. The mechanism includes a main hydraulic reservoir and pump which serve to provide hydraulic fluid to two cylinders, each containing a double rod piston for movement therein. The opposed arms are each operatively coupled to one end of one of the double rod pistons. First conduit means extend between the pump outlet through a directional valve and a port adjacent one end of one of the cylinders. A second conduit connects a port at the other end of the first cylinder with a first port adjacent one end of the second cylinder. A third conduit connects a port at the other end of the second cylinder with the directional valve. The directional valve is adapted to be shifted between a first position wherein the first conduit is connected to the pump outlet and the third conduit is a return to the reservoir and a second position wherein the connections of the first and third conduits are reversed. Valve means are provided which control the flow of hydraulic fluid through the second and third conduits and are adapted to bleed fluid from these conduits as required to maintain both pistons in alignment and thereby effectuate the alignment of both arms of the mechanism. The valve means include two solenoid-operated unidirectional valves, one of which is disposed within a fourth conduit extending between the second conduit and a supplemental reservoir, and the other being disposed within a fifth conduit extending between the third conduit and the supplemental reservoir. The solenoids are actuated by switches in aligned position along the path of travel of the arms, so that unless both arms pass over their respective switches at the same point in time, the solenoids are actuated to in turn actuate the proper valves to bleed sufficient hydraulic fluid from the line to bring both arms into alignment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. I is a side elevational view of a crosser utilizing the hydraulic control system of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along reference lines 2-2 in the direction of the arrows in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along reference lines 3-3 in the direction of the arrows in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the hydraulic system of the present invention; and

FIGS. 5 and 6 are schematic representations of the electrical circuitry associated with the hydraulic control system of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein similar components bear the same reference numeral throughout the several views. Reference is now made to FIG. 1 in particular wherein a crosser 10 provided with the hydraulic control system of the present invention is illustrated.

The crosser is generally symmetrical about its longitudinal axis and thus a view taken from the opposite side would be identical. To simplify this drawing, details of the hydraulic control system are not shown in FIG. 1, but instead, are illustrated separately in FIG. 4.

The crosser 10 serves to receive a web of material from a carding machine and to lay the web alternately back and forth over itself. In this connection, the crosser includes a first continuous belt or apron 12 in communication with the output 14 of the carding machine (not shown). Apron 12 picks up the web and transports it to a second continuous apron 16 which, in turn, transports the web to a third continuous apron I8. Apron 18 extends generally transverse to the longitudinally extending bed 20 which is secured to frame 22 and serves to receive the web material from apron 18. In this connection, the lower end 19 of apron 18 is adapted to reciprocate back and forth along track 24 which extends alongside bed 20. Roller 26 is provided to maintain the alignment of apron 18 with regard to track 24. To enable apron 18 to reciprocate, as described to apron frame is pivotally mounted to one end 29 of apron 16 which in turn is pivotally mounted to the frame. The other end 30 of apron 16 is mounted to the piston of hydraulic cylinder 28. Cylinder 28 thus acts as a counterweight. The extreme points of the path of motion of apron 18 are shown in phantom in FIG. I.

Apron 18 is driven back and forth along track 24 by hydraulic cylinder 32 and an identical cylinder 32a on the opposite side which are connected to arms 31 and 31a forming the frame of apron [8. Cylinder 32 contains piston 34 which extends outwardly from both ends of the cylinder. One end of rod 34 is connected to the frame of apron 18 through clevice 36 and spring 38. An identical arrangement connects piston 34a to the opposite side of the frame.

As was previously discussed, the present invention relates to a control system designed to insure that both sides of the frame of apron 18 remain in alignment as the apron progresses back and forth along track 24. In this connection, a schematic representation of the hydraulic control system is illustrated in FIG. 4. Accordingly, cylinders 32 and 32a are depicted, each provided with a double-rodded piston 34 and 34a, respectively. The sides of the frame of apron 18 are connected to the forward portions 42 and 42a of piston rods 34 and 340. A reservoir 44 is provided which is connected to the inlet of pump 48. The outlet 50 of pump 48 feeds pressure control valve 52 which serves to monitor the pressure of fluid entering the system and a bypass conduit 54 is provided to return excess hydraulic fluid to the reservoir. The main outlet 56 of control valve 52 passes through directional control valve 58 to a port 60 in cylinder 32 proximal its rear end through first conduit 46 or to a port 96 proximal the forward end of cylinder 320 via conduit 68, depending on the orientation of valve 58. Accordingly, the directional valve 58 is provided with an inlet port 57 which communicates with the pump outlet through main outlet conduit 56. The directional valve is also provided with a pair of outlet ports 59 and 61 connected respectively to conduits 46 and 68. This will be described in detail forthwith. As hydraulic fluid enters cylinder 32 through port 60, the fluid drives piston 34 forward, causing fluid in the forward end of the cylinder to flow out of port 62 through second conduit 64 to port 66 located in the rear end of cylinder 32 a, thereby sewing to drive piston 34a forward. The fluid at the forward end of cylinder 32a is returned to reservoir 44 through conduit 68 via directional valve 58.

A fourth conduit 70 intersects conduit 64 between cylinders 32 and 32a. Conduit 70 is connected through a solenoidoperated valve 72, check valve 74, and flow control valve 76 to supplemental reservoir 78. Similarly, fifth conduit 80 intersects conduit 68 and is connected to supplemental reservoir 78 through the solenoid-controlled valve 82, flow rate control valve 84, and check valve 86. Referring briefly to FIG. 1 once again, it is noted that a series of electrical switches 88, 90, and 92, are provided on track 24. An identical series of switches are provided on track 24a in alignment with the switches on track 24. These switches serve to operate the solenoids controlling valves 72 and 82 and the orientation of the directional valve in a manner to be described below.

NORMAL OPERATION During normal operation of the system, valves 72 and 82 will remain closed throughout each cycle. At the completion of the reverse stroke of apron l8, solenoid 94 is activated by the closing of switch 92 to allow the output of pump 48 to pass through directional valve 58 through conduit 46 to port 60 of cylinder 32. This causes piston 34 of cylinder 32 to move forward. The forward motion of piston 34 causes hydraulic fluid to flow through line 64 through port 62 to port 66 at the rear of cylinder 32a driving piston 34a of cylinder 32a forward by an amount identical to that by which piston 34 is moved forward. The forward motion of piston 340 causes hydraulic fluid to return to reservoir 44 through port 96 of cylinder 32a. When the apron carriage completes its desired forward stroke, limit switch 88 is activated pulsing solenoid 98. This switches directional valve 58, thereby allowing fluid to flow into port 96 through conduit 68 and back to the reservoir through port 60 and conduit 56, reversing the motion of piston 34 and 34a. A pressure relief valve 100 absorbs mechanical inertia at the time of reversal of fluid from ports 62 and 66 and excess fluid is stored in reservoir 78. At the start of the return stroke, fluid is returned from reservoir 78 to the system by cavitation through check valve 102. At the completion of the reverse stroke, limit switch 92 is again triggered, causing solenoid 94 to be activated and thereby retuming directional valve 58 to its initial position and causing the cycle to repeat.

CORRECTION FOR MISALIGNMENT During the forward stroke of apron l8, hydraulic fluid is normally flowing into port 60. If piston rod 1340 leads piston 34, valve 72 will be momentarily opened, allowing small volumes of hydraulic fluid to flow through conduit 70 to reservoir 78. This, in effect, diverts part of the normal flow of hydraulic fluid from outlet port 62 of cylinder 32 to inlet port 66 of cylinder 32a, thereby causing the leading piston 34:; to slow down and allow cylinder 34 to align itself. On the reverse stroke, if piston 34 is lagging piston 34a, valve 82 is momentarily opened, thereby partially diverting some of the hydraulic fluid flow through conduits 68 and 80 to conduit 70 and thence to conduit 64. This will reduce the pressure differential across piston 34a and hence reduce the reverse velocity of piston 340. Thus, with value 82 open, the reverse velocity of piston 34a is reduced while that of piston 34 remains the same. This will advance piston 34 relative to piston 340 on the reverse stroke tending to bring pistons 34 and 340 into line. Repeated momentary activation of valves 72 and 82 as described above, will tend to realign the carriage after several strokes, generally within 10 to 15 cycles.

The circuitry governing the realignment feature of the present invention is depicted in H6. 6. As was previously stated, two switches and 90a are provided in alignment on opposite sides of the machine at the approximate center points of carriages 24 and 24a. The switches are adapted to be thrown from one position to the other position as the apron frame passes thereover. Also, the switches are reversely wired so that as apron 18 passes the switches in one direction, it will open one switch and close the other and do the opposite when it passes in the other direction. For example, when the apron is traveling forward, when switch 90 is triggered, it will close and when switch 90a is triggered, it will open, or vice versa. Referring now to FIG. 6, it is noted that switch 92 is closed, indicating that the apron 18 has completed its reverse stroke and is moving forward. As the apron frame passes over switches 90 and 90a, one will open and the other will close. if both switches are triggered at the same time (indicating that the apron frame is aligned) the top circuit will remain open and valve 72 will remain closed since solenoid coil 104 which controls valve 72 will'not be activated. Assume, however, that piston 34a leads piston 34. Thus, switch 900 will be triggered before switch 90. Assume further that the switches are so arranged that during the start of the forward stroke switch 90a is open and switch 90 is closed. When the side of the apron frame driven by piston 34a passes over switch 900, it will reverse the position of the switch contacts, thereby closing contacts and opening contact 102. This will complete the top leg of the circuit, and thereby energize coil 104 which in turn will open valve 72. Valve 72 will remain open until the side of the apron frame driven by piston 34 passes over switch 90, thereby causing contact 106 to open and 108 to close. At that time, the upper leg of the circuit will open, deactivating coil 104 and closing valve 72, thereby preventing further alignment in this direction. At the completion of the forward stroke, switch 92 will open and switch 88 will close, thereby changing the direction of flow through valve 58 and causing the reverse stroke of the apron. At the beginning of the reverse stroke, switch 90 is closed and switch 90a is open. Thus, if the side of the carriage driven by piston 34a leads the side driven by piston 34 during the reverse stroke, a similar correction as that described above would occur. It should be apparent that the initial position of switches 90 and 90a merely determine at what point in the cycle correction for misalignment will occur. Pilot lamps 112 and U4 are provided in parallel with coils 104 and 110, respectively, and serve as visible evidence of the alignment condition of the apparatus.

Thus, in accordance with the above, the aforementioned objectives and advantages are attained.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a hydraulically operated reciprocating mechanism of the type having two spaced-apart arms disposed for parallel movement along opposite sides of a frame, the improvement comprising a control mechanism for maintaining the alignment of said arms during said movement including:

a main hydraulic fluid reservoir and pump;

a first cylinder having a piston disposed therein for forward and rearward movement, said first piston being operative coupled to one of said arms;

first conduit means extending between said pump and a first port in said first cylinder adjacent the forward end thereof;

second conduit means extending between a port adjacent the other end of said first cylinder and a port adjacent the forward end of a second cylinder;

said second cylinder having a piston disposed therein for forward and rearward movement, said second piston being operatively coupled to said other arm;

a third conduit means extending between a port adjacent the other end of said second cylinder and said pump;

valve means adapted to divert hydraulic fluid from at least one of said conduit means whereby to enable the alignment of said arms;

sensing means adapted to determine the relative position of said arms along their respective frame sides;

valve control means responsive to said sensing means adapted to open or close said valve means as required to bring said arms into alignment;

a fourth conduit extending between said second conduit and a supplemental fluid reservoir,

a fifth conduit extending between said first conduit and said fourth conduit;

a supplemental fluid reservoir;

and said valve means includes a first valve disposed within said fourth conduit and adapted to divert fluid therefrom when activated to said supplemental reservoir and a second valve disposed within said fifth conduit and adapted to divert hydraulic fluid from said first conduit to said fourth conduit when activated.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a directional valve having two outlet ports adapted to be selectively opened, said valve having an inlet port in communication with said pump and means for selectively opening said directional valve outlet ports, said first conduit means extends between one of said directional valve outlet ports and said first cylinder first port, and said third conduit means extends between the other outlet port of said directional valve and the other end of said second cylinder.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said control means includes means for opening said first valve during the forward, stroke of said piston when said first ann leads said second arm and for opening said second valve during the reverse stroke of said piston when said second arm lags said first arm.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said valves are solenoid actuated and said control means includes means for electrically actuating said solenoids.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 4 wherein said control means includes a first two-position switch mounted on said frame and adapted to be switched from a first position to a second position by said arm when said first arm passes said switch in a forward direction and to be returned to said first position when said first ann passes over said switch in a reverse direction, a second two-position switch mounted on said frame and adapted to be switched from a first position to a second position by said second arm when said second arm passes over said switch in a forward direction and to be returned to said first position when said second arm passes over said switch in a reverse direction, said first and second switches being disposed in aligned position on said frame, and said first switch first position and said second switch second position are wired in series with said first valve solenoid and said first switch second position and said second switch first position are wired in series with said second valve solenoid, whereby said first valve solenoid is actuated to open said first valve if said first arm leads said second arm during the forward stroke of said mechanism and said second valve solenoid is actuated to open said second valve if said second arm lags said first arm during the reverse stroke of said mechanism.

6. The invention in accordance with claim 5 wherein said first and second switches are mounted in aligned position on opposite sides of said frame at substantially the midpoint of the path of motion of said arms.

7. The invention in accordance with claim 6 further comprising a first limit switch adapted to be closed at the completion of each forward stroke of said mechanism and to be opened at the completion of the reverse stroke of said mechanism and a second limit switch adapted to be closed at the completion of each reverse stroke of said mechanism and to be opened at the completion of each forward stroke, said first limit switch being wired in series with said second valve solenoid and said second limit switch being wired in series with said first valve solenoid whereby said irst valve can be actuated only during the forward stroke of said mechanism and said second valve can be actuated only during the reverse stroke of said mechanism.

8. The invention in accordance with claim 7 wherein said limit switches are further adapted to control the opening of said directional valve outlet ports.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE QERTEFEQATE 0F CQRRECTEGN Patent No. 3,636,817 Dated January 25, 1972 InVentOr(s) Sumner Shapiro It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Change the issue date from "January 25, 1971" to January 25, l972-.

Signed and sealed this 15th day 01f August 1972.

SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M, FLETCHER, JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents ORM PO-1050(10 USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 U h, (,(JVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE I969 0-366-334 

1. In a hydraulically operated reciprocating mechanism of the type having two spaced-apart arms disposed for parallel movement along opposite sides of a frame, the improvement comprising a control mechanism for maintaining the alignment of said arms during said movement including: a main hydraulic fluid reservoir and pump; a first cylinder having a piston disposed therein for forward and rearward movement, said first piston being operatively coupled to one of said arms; first conduit means extending between said pump and a first port in said first cylinder adjacent the forward end thereof; second conduit means extending between a port adjacent the other end of said first cylinder and a port adjacent the forward end of a second cylinder; said second cylinder having a piston disposed therein for forward and rearward movement, said second piston being operatively coupled to said other arm; a third conduit means extending between a port adjacent the other end of said second cylinder and said pump; valve means adapted to divert hydraulic fluid from at least one of said conduit means whereby to enable the alignment of said arms; sensing means adapted to determine the relative position of said arms along their respective frame sides; valve control means responsive to said sensing means adapted to open or close said valve means as required to bring said arms into alignment; a fourth conduit extending between said second conduit and a supplemental fluid reservoir; a fifth conduit extending between said first conduit and said fourth conduit; a supplemental fluid reservoir; and said valve means includes a first valve disposed within said fourth conduit and adapted to divert fluid therefrom when activated to said supplemental reservoir and a second valve disposed within said fifth conduit and adapted to divert hydraulic fluid from said first conduit to said fourth conduit when activated.
 2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a directional valve having two outlet ports adapted to be selectively opened, said valve having an inlet port in communication with said pump and means for selectively opening said directional valve outlet ports, said first conduit means extends between one of said directional valve outlet ports and said first cylinder first port, and said third conduit means extends between the other outlet port of said directional valve and the other end of said second cylinder.
 3. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said control means includes means for opening said first valve during the forward stroke of said piston when said first arm leads said second arm and for opening said second valve during the reverse stroke of said piston when said second arm lags said first arm.
 4. The invention in accordance with claim 1 wherein said valves are solenoid actuaTed and said control means includes means for electrically actuating said solenoids.
 5. The invention in accordance with claim 4 wherein said control means includes a first two-position switch mounted on said frame and adapted to be switched from a first position to a second position by said arm when said first arm passes said switch in a forward direction and to be returned to said first position when said first arm passes over said switch in a reverse direction, a second two-position switch mounted on said frame and adapted to be switched from a first position to a second position by said second arm when said second arm passes over said switch in a forward direction and to be returned to said first position when said second arm passes over said switch in a reverse direction, said first and second switches being disposed in aligned position on said frame, and said first switch first position and said second switch second position are wired in series with said first valve solenoid and said first switch second position and said second switch first position are wired in series with said second valve solenoid, whereby said first valve solenoid is actuated to open said first valve if said first arm leads said second arm during the forward stroke of said mechanism and said second valve solenoid is actuated to open said second valve if said second arm lags said first arm during the reverse stroke of said mechanism.
 6. The invention in accordance with claim 5 wherein said first and second switches are mounted in aligned position on opposite sides of said frame at substantially the midpoint of the path of motion of said arms.
 7. The invention in accordance with claim 6 further comprising a first limit switch adapted to be closed at the completion of each forward stroke of said mechanism and to be opened at the completion of the reverse stroke of said mechanism and a second limit switch adapted to be closed at the completion of each reverse stroke of said mechanism and to be opened at the completion of each forward stroke, said first limit switch being wired in series with said second valve solenoid and said second limit switch being wired in series with said first valve solenoid whereby said first valve can be actuated only during the forward stroke of said mechanism and said second valve can be actuated only during the reverse stroke of said mechanism.
 8. The invention in accordance with claim 7 wherein said limit switches are further adapted to control the opening of said directional valve outlet ports. 